242 THE MEADOW LARK. 



Schuylktll, in all seasons ; even when the ground was 

 deeply covered with snow. There is scarcely a market 

 day in Philadelphia, from September to March, but they 

 may be found in Market. They are generally considered, 

 for size and delicacy, little inferior to the quail, or what 

 is here usually called the partridge, and valued accor- 

 dingly. I once met with a few of these birds in the month 

 of February, during 'a deep snow, among the heights of 

 the Alleghany, between Shippensburgh and Somerset, 

 gleaning on the road, in company with the small snow- 

 birds. In the states of South Carolina and Georgia, at the 

 same season of the year, they swarm among the rice plan- 

 tations, running about the yards and out-houses, accompa- 

 nied by the Kildeers, with little appearance of fear, as if 

 quite domesticated. 



These birds, after the building season is over, collect in 

 flocks ; but seldom fly in a close, compact body ; their 

 'flight is something in the manner of the grouse and partridge ; 

 laborious and steady ; sailing, and renewing the rapid ac- 

 tion of the wings alternately. When they alight on trees 

 or bushes, it is generally on the tops of the highest branches, 

 whence they send forth a long, clear, and somewhat mel- 

 ancholy note, that, in sweetness and tenderness of ex- 

 pression, is not surpassed by any of our numerous warb- 

 lers. This is sometimes followed by a kind of low, rapid 

 chattering, the peculiar call of the female ; and again the 

 clear and plaintive strain 1 is repeated as before. They 

 afford tolerable good amusement to the sportsman, being 

 most easily shot while on wing, as they frequently squat 

 among the long grass, and spring within gunshot. The 

 nest of this species is built generally in, or below, a thick 

 tuft or tussock of grass ; it is composed of dry grass, and 

 fine bent laid at bottom, and wound all round, leaving an 

 arched entrance level witn the ground ; the inside is lined 

 with fine stalks of the same materials, disposed with great 

 regularity. The eggs are four, sometimes five, white, 



